Column clamp



June 19, 1928. 1,674,280

M. A. EKLOF COLUMN CLAMP Filed A ril 28, 1927 25 46 of clamp torconcrete columns.

Patented June 19,

UNITED: STATES max moans Enron, or cmcaeo, armors,

. GOLUHN cum.

Application filed 28, 1927. Serial No. 187,201.

My invention relates to an improved type The objects of my invention are to providea column clamp which can be quickly and convenient ly assembled in clamping position about the column, which is economically manufactured, which can be conveniently folded up into substantially compact form, and which will effectively function to firmly. hold the sides of the column in desired position and arrangement.

One of the main objects ofmy invention resides in providing an improved construction of column clamps wherein the clamping members may be moved inwardly any desired amount against the faces'ot' the column and held firmlydn such clamping position, the clamping members at the same time being arranged to maintain a predetermined relation toward each other.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 a perspective view of my improved clamping device in position upon a column.-

Figures 2 and 3 are'perspec tive views of the block member of my clamping device. Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the hinged clamping members in closed position.

. Figure 5 is a partial view showing the iree ends oftwo adjacent Figure 6 is a plan view of the'slotted end of he clamping bar showing-the two series of spaced slots arranged in overlapping relationa a p Y c Figure 7 is a modified 'form of a bar showing a single slot having continuously arranged overlapping slots.

Referringnow to the drawings in detail,

in the preferred embodiment of my inventlon the column clamp comprises a series of four rigid-bars 2, 4, 6 and 8 preferably of.

metaL. These bars in the form illustrated are arranged in-pairs, the bars of each pair being pivoted. or hinged togetheras at 10 and 12' so that when each pair of bars is openedinto' L shaped formation the two pairs of bars may be arranged as clearly 'hown in Figure 1 with their free extremities 14, 16, 18 and 20 int-overlapping relation and enclosing the columnar frame improper and they would have to? be 22. As well known in the art, these frames are generally made of rectangular shape, preferably square, and'they are in the form of boards forming a square hollow into concrete is being poured and thereafter until 55 the concrete sets. This is the function of these clamps. Each column will have sev-- eral of these clamping devices arranged therein in vertical spaced-apart series. .In

the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the figures of the drawing I prefer to 7 form the hinged end of a pair of bars with, means for holding the bars at exactly right angles the one to the other when'they are in open formation, as shown in. Figure 1. This is accomplished by providing the end of one of the bars with a cutout 24 and adjao'ent depending tongue 26, whichton'gue 26 is permitted to swing across the end of the connected bar by will act as a stop as plainly shown in Figure 1 to hold the bars ofa pair at exactly right angles when in open position.- Manifestl these bars may or of; However, this stop construction has another important function, and that is to provide means wherebyjthe bars of a pair can be opened only in' one direction, and this is importan because if the bars did not have ereon and were opened in the irection they would not allow correct overlapping relation on the column,

removed and the stops t opened in the other direction, be a delay. Furthermore in my improved construction whereinone bar of each pair carries the sliding block as herein)after described if the bars of the pairs are not opened in the proper direction the two blocks will be positioned on the same side or same corner of thecolumn, which will of course inakethe clamp inoperative since the two blocks must be positioned at diagonally opposite corners of the column, as shown cle'arlyjn .Figure 1. 4

' In theform of. my invention shown in the drawings, one of theimportant-features of my invention resides in the construction wherein ranged as shown in Figure l-to embrace the walls of the column the free ends of the bars reason of the cutout and so may not havethls stop construction as a part there- 85 which would 95 the opened clampingbars when arit.

' easily operable means be provided for forcill to the other and in overlapping relation.-

This insures a symmetrical and exactly square or rectangular shaped clamp, the sides of the bars of which will be pressed against the boards forming the hollow column. It is important that convenient and ibly pressing these bars inwardly against the sides of the column to firmly hold the column in such position. In the form illustrated this is accomplished by providing two blocks '28 which are identical in construction. These blocks are somewhat in the shape of a quarter of a circle'having two sides 32 and 34 lying at right angles, the one to the other, and having an arcuate edge 36. The lateral face of the arcuate edge is opened as shown at 38, and the two faces and 34 are provided with slots which communicate with the hollow. inside of .the block and with the open side 38. The slot- 40 in the face 34 is not in the same plane with the slot 42 in the face-32, they being spaced apart the thickness of a bar to.. ermit the bars to pass through such slots w en the bars are placed in overlapping relation as shown clearly in Figures 1 and of the drawing while at the same time permitting the double thickness of the two bars thus ar ranged in overlapping relation to pass through the open slot 38 of the arcuate face 36. This is clearly shown in the upper portion of Figure 1 of the drawings. The slot 40 is exactly the thickness of the bar and has its ends closed as shownin Fi ure 3, whereas slot 42 which is also the thickness I of the bar opens into the slot 38 on the artwardly,

uate surface 36. By means of this constructlon the blocks 28 may be readily positioned with the overlapping bar projecting therethrough as shown in Figure 1. The faces 32 and 34 of the block slant or incline rearthis pitch 44 being approximately one-eighth of an inch. This backward pitch is provided for cooperation withthe taper-. ing wedges as hereinafter set forth.

Each of the bars is provided with longitu dinally arranged lineal holes or slots 46. In

the arrangement shown in Figure 6 these slots are in two series spaced apart and ex- '4 tending longitudinally of each bar, the slots in each series being arranged in overlappingrelation, that is, the end 48 of one slot will overlap the opposite end 50 of the adjacent slot of the spaced line of slots. The extent of thls'overlap is sufiicient to permit the point of the tapering wedge 52 to be inserted a considerable distance in the over-. lapped slot so as to provide a sufiicient lever action so that the wedge .may force the block along as hereinafter described. Manifestly this overlapping arrangement may take on many different embodiments and dimensions. In the form illustrated in Figure in assembly 7 I have shown an equivalent construction wherein the single slot 54 is provided hav ing staggeredly arranged slots joined by lateral offsets to form a continuous slot, the junction of the slots at the offsets forming the shoulder against which the tapering wedge pins may be inserted.

The blocks 28 are preferably mounted upon one of the bars 2 or 4 or 6 or 8 of the clamping members being held in position thegeon by the stop pin 56 so that the block remains in correctly assembled position, and it is only necessary in assembling the clamping bars on the column as shown in Figure 1 to push the block inwardly so thatthe adjacent overlapping bars will pass through the arcuate slot 38 of the block and lie in the slot 42 of the face 32.

1 provide a series of wedge-shaped pins 52 for cooperation with the slots 46 for forcing the clamping bars 2, 4, 6 and 8 with any.

desired degree of pressure against the sides of the column. As clearly shown in Figure 1 when the clamping bars are assembled on the column they are pushed by hand firmly against the sides of the column. One of the wedge pins is then inserted in each projecting portion of a slot which extends beyond either of theside faces 32 and 34 of the block. F rfinstancc, the pin 58 in Figure 1 is shown as'inserted in a portion of a slot 60, while another pin 62 is shown as being driven home in an overlapping slot in the other series on bar 2. This same operation is carried out'on both faces 32 and 34 of both blocks. For instance, on the lower block as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing the pins 52 and 62 will have forced the block along both the bars 2 and 6 to a predetermined amount. Now if it be necessary to clamp the bar still more tightly against the column the pin 58 willthen be inserted .in the portion of-the slot 60 that projects beyond-the face 34 of the block, .and the pin may then be driven down and the taperor wedge of the. pin will then with great pressure force the block inwardly along the bar 2. In like manner another pinniay be ins'erted in a similar projecting end of a slotpredetermined increments of distance along the bars which 'will-causethe bars to be forced inwardly with equal pressure against the column while maintaining the exact and true rectangular shape. ,Manifestlythe pins hold the clamping bars in desired position.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing construction is very simple in manufacture,

and in oper ation.

In theuse of blocks a pitch 44 is provided to compensate for the rearwardly inclined 'andf34pf the block will permit the pins downward movement. This would not be permit't ed'if the faces 32 and 34 wereexactly vertical. These blocks are also made 7 of metal and arevery rugged in construction.

Any desired manner of making them may be availed of and maybe cast and made in parts suitably held together if desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim; as new'and desire to secure'hy Let-.

11ers Patentisr V V 1. A columnelamp comprising rigid bars I adapted to embrace the column, blocks having sides arranged at right angles to each other and an adjoining slotted face, each of saidsides having a slot therein disposed out of the plane of the slot of the other side and one of said slots being continuous with the slot in the adjoining face, said sides having an inclination or backward pitchto facilitate the entry of the wedge-shaped P ns into the slots in the bars.

rigid bars arranged 2'. A column clamp comprising rigid bars pivoted together to formpairs of clamping frames, means limiting'the open position of Y the bars of each pair to anexact right-angle,

and a slotted block slidably and irremovahly disposed upon one of said bars, said bars.

having overlappingly disposed linear holes arrangedlongitudinally thereof for receiving wedge-shaped pins.

v3. A column clamp comprising a series of in pairs and pivotally connected adjacent their ends, the free end of one of said pairs of a bar having a cut-out and the free end of theother pivotally conneeted bar-having a laterally extending lug adapted to engage the side of the first mentioned. bar to limit the opening movement- MAX ANDERS EKLOF. 

